Title: A New Adventure For A New TimeAuthor: Kat LeeFandom: Xena Warrior PrincessCharacter/Pairing: Xena/Gabrielle, Aphrodite, OFCRating: PG/K+Challenge/Prompt: 1_million_words Say What Friday: "A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on." -- John F. KennedyWarning(s): Future FicWord Count: 1,115Date Written: 27 January 2018Summary: Disclaimer: All recognizable characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.

The lovers look up as Aphrodite appears in a swirling mist of twinkling, pink lights. “I want to show you something,” She says urgently and, with a wave of Her hand, transports all three of them to a cloud far closer to Earth. “Look down,” She urges in a whisper though they’re still far enough above the mortals that none of them could possibly hear them even if they shouted.

“What are we looking at?” Xena demands, her blue eyes narrowed as she searches the crowd.

“This is an important gathering in the most powerful country in the world.”

“They seem to be cheering that woman,” Gabrielle points out.

“They are,” the Love Goddess tells them happily. “She just won an election. They vote their leaders into position, and she just became the most powerful woman in the world. She’s the leader of this entire nation!” Her dearest friends are just starting to smile when Aphrodite adds, “And she’s one of your descendents!”

“One of our descendents? I . . . didn’t think that was possible. All our children died.”

“But not before they had a chance to mate with others. I know Xena’s son did, but your daughters did not. They left behind a legacy.”

“An evil legacy,” Gabrielle mutters, glancing at Xena. Both times, their children had almost ripped them apart. Gabrielle’s daughter had killed Xena’s son, and Xena’s daughter had killed nearly every one of the Gods.

“But just because one starts evil does not mean that they have to stay that way.”

“They were still evil when we -- “ Gabrielle stumbles over the word that she means to say. Xena’s hand reaches out, covers her, and gives her a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

“They were evil when you had to kill them. Yes, I know,” Aphrodite tells her gently. “I remember. But their descendents did not stay that way. Your children were cursed, Gabrielle. They were not evil because they were born to you. They were evil because of curses and their own doing. They could have chosen to be good,” She continues before the bard can ask her how they could be both. “Xena is proof of that. She changed her destiny time and again.”

“Until the last time,” Gabby whispers.

“That doesn’t matter,” Xena tells her, squeezing her hands. “That’s in the past now. But this young woman,” the Warrior Princess asks, looking at Aphrodite. “You say she’s the leader of the most powerful nation?”

“Yes, she was elected so by her people after serving them for many years. She has been a leader before but of smaller groups, and she has fought for the freedom of the world many times.” She smiles at them. “She is truly your daughter.”

“But how can she be both?” Gabrielle insists, frowning. “I mean, it’s not like we could ever have children together.”

“No, but one of Xena’s descendents met with one of yours.”

“And they were her parents?”

“More like great great great great great great great great grandparents or something like that,” Aphrodite admits, wiggling Her nose. “I kinda get lost in all the greats, but I wanted you to see this. I wanted you to know that even now, hundreds of years after you lived and fought all the battles you fought in to try to change things back in your time and to free and help people who nobody else would, you’re still making a difference.”

“I guess that is kind of . . . What’s the word people use now?” Gabrielle asks, looking down at the humans. “Cool?”

Aphrodite nods. “It’s very cool,” She tells her. “It’s like a woman may die,” She says, paraphrasing something she once heard a mortal say and has liked ever since, “nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on. Your goodness -- the change you started in this world -- lives on.”

“She’s going to need a lot of help,” Xena remarks.

“And she’ll have it. Some of her closest friends and most trusted confidants include descendants of Joxer, Amarice, and Autolycus.”

“The King of Thieves.” Xena smirks as she remembers. “He was a scoundrel, but a good man in the end.”

“Yes,” Aphrodite smiles, “he was, and he was cute too!”

“If you say so,” Xena counters, but Gabrielle is smiling as she watches the proceedings below.

“Thank you for showing us this, Aphrodite,” she finally says as the crowd below cheers again for the first female President of the United States of America. “It is very cool,” she admits.

Aphrodite beams. “I knew you’d like it. You made a difference in so many hundreds and hundreds of lives, and I know you were both upset when you couldn’t make that difference more, or you thought you couldn’t.” She gazes steadfastly into first Gabrielle’s eyes and then Xena’s as she concludes with both pride and joy, “But you still are.”

“And maybe we can hang around a little while?” Xena asks. “Be like . . . her guardian Angel or something? I know you said she has help, but she’s going to need all she can get.”

Aphrodite nods. “I don’t see any reason why the reigning God will be upset by that. He lets Us keep helping after all, as long as We’re doing good.” She giggles. “I’d say go for it! Just call Me when you’re ready to come home.” Aphrodite blinks out, leaving Xena and Gabrielle alone.

Xena stands and spreads her wings. Looking down at her soul mate, she offers her her hand. “Ready for our next adventure?”

“You always did,” Xena says, pulling her in for a kiss. “Now let’s go!” Tenderly embracing Gabrielle in her arms, Xena hops off of the cloud and holds her lover close as they spiral together toward the ground. At the last moment, they jerk their wings up and hover, still unseen, above the humans. They can not see them, but they see the mortals well and far easier than they ever did in life.

Xena grins. “This is going to be fun!” she whispers.

Gabrielle smiles. She isn’t so certain that it will be fun, but it will be the adventure of a lifetime, a new lifetime she’d never thought they’d have together but which they do. Their descendent will need their help, and it’s far past time they were granted another adventure together. It gets boring staying in clouds and the Elysian Fields, or Heaven, all millenia after all. She listens to the woman’s speech and watches her movement, and her smile grows. She sees Xena all over this leader, even if she does have Gabrielle’s green eyes and gift of words.